China’s conventional subs shifting underwater war balance

A newly spotted Chinese submarine with an advanced rudder design signals China’s rapid advancements in submarine technology, potentially shifting the balance of power in underwater warfare vis-à-vis the US.

Last month, The War Zone reported that a Chinese submarine featuring an innovative X-form rudder has been identified at the Wuchang Shipyard in central Wuhan.

The War Zone mentions that the discovery was made by Tom Shugart, a retired US Navy submarine warfare officer and adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), who analyzed satellite imagery from this April.

The report says the images revealed the new Chinese submarine and a Hangor II class submarine being constructed for Pakistan. It notes that the new vessel appears significantly longer than the existing Type 039A Yuan class submarines, with an estimated length of 272-279 feet and a displacement of approximately 3,600 tons.

The War Zone report suggests that the extended hull could accommodate vertical launch system (VLS) cells, a feature rare in conventionally powered submarines but seen in other nations’ fleets, such as Israel’s Dakar class and South Korea’s Dosan Ahn Changho class.

As for the X-form rudder, the report says the design enhances maneuverability, efficiency and safety, and reduces acoustic signatures, making it particularly suitable for operations in littoral areas like the contested South China Sea.

China’s X-form rudder submarine may mark an evolution in its conventional submarine design, which is based on the Yuan-class SSK. It has previously introduced an angled sail design, which reduces detectability against active sonar.

China has been steadily advancing its underwater warfare capabilities, with conventional